Thriller Analysis: Fight Club - Jake Williams

1. Fight Club
Thriller Analysis

2. Sound
Initially the non-diagetic sound used within the extract helps to
build up growing distress and tension; it’s harsh and
uncomfortable to listen to – which is a common thriller
convention.
The speech used allows us to see one character who’s very
much in control, and establishes the second character to be
weaker and in pain.
There is a modern beat throughout which is almost calming;
however diagetic sounds such as shouting or glasses falling
make us fully alert. The diagetic sounds seem to represent the
sufferers distress whilst the underlying beat shows the other
characters control of the situation.

3. Camerawork
The camerawork remains fairly still and controlled (it isn’t shaky)
and this shows us that Brad Pitt’s character (Tyler Durden) is
controlling the situation. When it cuts to the victim trying to
mentally escape the filming is much more rushed (whip pans are
used) which shows his panic.
The close ups of their faces allows us to see their contrasting
expressions.

4. Initially the victim is shown to be more powerful, he stands
above Tyler; however, later in the shot this is reversed to
show that Tyler is the more dominant force.
The majority of the filming within this
scene is just shot-reverse-shot. The
over shoulder shots allow us to gain a
sense of the domineering mental battle
of the scene.

5. Editing
Cutaways are used to show the victim trying to escape
from the pain; however, this then failing as a montage of
images of pain occur also.
There are various match-on-action shots to intensify the
tension and drama of the scene; for example when we
see the burning hand.

6. Mise-en-scene
Tylers light hearted Hawaiian style
shirt seems to juxtapose his nature
(at least within this extract) –
highlighting his attitude further.
The lighting also has connotations of
a somewhat dodgy facility; there are
lots of shadows and the color
scheme could be called ‘dirty’ giving
an overall look of an unpleasant
place to be.
The scientific equipment and
knowledge used by Tyler makes it
seem like he’s done this before.

7. Thriller Conventions
This extract of Fight Club seems to adhere to the
action/mental thriller sub genre. There is no super natural
element or mystery to solve it is purely the mental and
physical battle of the two characters.
However, breaking from the genre conventions is Brad
Pitt’s character: Tyler. He is the protagonist; however,
within this scene he is shown to be an anti-hero (a
protagonist who behaves more like an antagonist)
The way tension and danger is established within the
scene is common in thrillers; key to this is the sharp,
harsh music which increases/decreases as the tension
increases/defuses.